Digital Commons Network^™

Weather Information And Decision-Support Tool Needs Assessment, Lily Calderwood, Glen Koehler, Sean Birkel, Erin H. Roche

The Journal of Extension

University of Maine researchers developed three commodity-specific grower focus groups (lowbush blueberry, apple, mixed vegetable) to discuss and survey 1) current access to weather information, and 2) interest in weather-based decision support tools. NOAA National Weather Service (30%) (n=47) was most commonly cited as a weather information source. Growers ranked greater forecast accuracy (31%) and localization (19%) (n=48) as highest priorities. Only 34% of growers reported current use of weather-based decision support tools, but 86% expressed interest in future use (n=134). The project team is using grower input to improve weather data access and decision-support tools for Maine farmers.

Assessment Of Historical Climate Variability In Maine With Implications For Future Agricultural Productivity And Adaptation, Carly Frank

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate change is a wicked problem with global impacts, one of which being the sustainability of the existing global food system. As temperatures and variability in precipitation are projected to increase, the challenges to agriculture are expected to intensify. This thesis examines the Maine historical climate record over the growing season, in combination with future projections, to assess how conditions have changed and will change with agricultural implications. In this analysis, relevant climatic variables are analyzed, and agriculture-significant measures are derived for Maine’s three climate divisions using four decades of daily and monthly gridded datasets. In addition, this thesis explores …

Mp765: Creating The Orono Bog Boardwalk: A Facility For Education, Research, And Recreation, Ronald B. Davis

Miscellaneous Publications

A memoir by Dr. Ronald Davis detailing the creation of the Orono Bog Boardwalk. The Orono Bog Boardwalk is a premier destination in the Bangor/Orono area for persons wishing to experience the beauty and fascinating plants and animals of a Maine bog. The 1-mile boardwalk loop trail begins at the forested wetland edge in the Bangor City Forest, and after 800 feet crosses the Orono town line into the portion of the Orono Bog owned by the University of Maine. Along the way the boardwalk passes through a wide range of changing vegetation and environments on its way to the …

“Why Are You Seeking Out Farm Training?” 2022 New Farmer Survey Results, Jonathan Malacarne, Christina Howard

Cooperative Extension - Agriculture

The “Why Are You Seeking Out Farm Training?” survey received 118 responses in the winter of 2022 from new and beginning farmers. According to the USDA, new and beginning farmers are people who have been farming for less than 10 years. The respondents shared their priorities on what training needs they have for the topics of ‘sales and marketing’ and ‘business management’. The top choices included collaborative marketing, online sales, farm stands sales, financing, bookkeeping, and business goal setting. UMaine Extension educators and other service providers will use the survey results to design farm trainings based on the interests and …

Scallop Aquaculture Research Collaborative Meeting, Meggan Dwyer

Miscellaneous Publications

No abstract provided.

Tapping The Sweet Spot: Predicting The Suitability Of A Woodlot’S Potential To Transition Into A Productive Sugarbush In Maine, Deven M. Teisl

Non-Thesis Student Work

Through conversations with Dr. Sara Velardi, a postdoctoral research associate who has been doing research on maple producers’ scale management decisions in Maine, most current owners and operators in the maple syrup industry have the common interest of expanding their current operations, but they are unsure of how to approach that problem. Due to these current issues, my research focused on creating a sugarbush assessment tool. This assessment tool consists of a set of guidelines which can be utilized by current or future producers and can be used to easily assess woodlots without having to hire a consulting forester to …

An Analysis Of The History And Current Treatment Trends Of The Parasitic Mite Varroa Destructor (Acari: Varroidae) In Maine Beekeeping, Patrick Hurley

Honors College

Varroa mites, Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae), are a parasitic mite of honey bee colonies worldwide. Varroa mites feed on both adult honey bees and developing brood, easily spread between colonies, and can kill European honey bee colonies within just a few years. Beekeepers must apply mite treatments to maintain healthy colonies. This thesis is an overview of the currently available mite treatments in the United States and how they relate to Maine Beekeeping. There are three main research components of this thesis. The first is the analysis of two surveys that Maine beekeepers completed in 2019. The second is a …

Maine's Climate Future: 2020 Update, Ivan J. Fernandez, Sean Birkel, Catherine V. Schmitt, Julia Simonson, Bradford Lyon, Andrew Pershing, Esperanza Stancioff, George L. Jacobson, Paul Andrew Mayewski Dr.

Climate Change Institute Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Northeast Organic Small Grain Disease And Insect Pest Scouting Report, Heather Darby, Ann Hazelrigg, Ellen Mallory, Jianjun Hao, Erica Cummings, Gabriella Maia, Tom Molloy

Northwest Crops & Soils Program

A survey of small grain diseases and insect pests were conducted in Vermont, Maine, New York, and Massachusetts during the 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. The purpose of scouting was to determine what insect pests and plant diseases are prevalent in organic small grain production in the Northeast.

Aroostook County Community Food Resources, Hannah Kenison

Aroostook

Food resources found in Aroostook County, Maine:

• DHHS offices
• Food pantries
• Farm stands
• CSA farms
• Farmers' markets
• Other resources

Franklin County Community Food Resources, Emily Couture

Franklin

Food resources found in Franklin County, Maine:

• Farm stands
• CSA farms
• Farmers' markets
• SNAP office
• WIC office
• Additional resources

Somerset County Community Food Resources, Michela Desjardins

Somerset

Food resources found in Somerset County, Maine

• County statistics
• Local producers
• Local markets
• University of Maine (UMO)
• Recreation

Waldo County Community Food Resources, Liesel Krout

Waldo

Food resources found in Waldo County, Maine:

• Community supported agriculture
• Harvest Bucks accepted
• Community resources
• Food pantries

Washington County Community Food Resources, Richard Sawyer

Washington

Food resources found in Washington County, Maine:

• Facts about food insecurity
• Snap and WIC
• WIC certified stores
• Farmers' markets
• Harvest Bucks
• Food pantries
• Resources for children

Washington County Community Food Resources, Hannah Bonnie

Washington

Food resources found in Washington County, Maine:

• Farm stands
• Food pantries
• Harvest Bucks
• Farmers' markets
• Department of Health and Human Services offices

York County Community Food Resources, Christin Mcdonough

York

Food resources found in York County, Maine:

• Food pantries
• Farmers' markets
• Farm stands
• Other resources

Somerset County Community Food Resources, Jason Scott

Somerset

Food resources found in Somerset County, Maine:

• Good Shepard Food Banks partners
• Harvest Bucks/EBT Farmers' Markets
• Farm stands
• CSA farms
• Other food resources

Aroostook County Community Food Resources, Jennifer Curtis

Aroostook

Food resources found in Aroostook County, Maine:

• Local school pantries
• Farm fresh produce
• Good Shepard Food Bank partners
• Emergency food resources

York County Community Food Resources, Jennifer Curtis

York

Food resources found in York County, Maine:

• Local school pantries
• Farms
• Farm stands
• Good Shepard Food Bank partners
• Emergency food

Sagadahoc County Community Food Resources, Liesel Krout

Sagadahoc

Food resources found in Sagadahoc County, Maine:

• Farms - community supported agriculture
• Farm stands (Harvest Bucks)
• Farmers' market (EBT)
• Mobile market
• Food pantries

Hancock County Community Food Resources, Savannah Lowrey

Hancock

Food resources found in Hancock County, Maine:

• Farm stands
• Farmers markets
• CSA farms
• Food pantry
• Community centers

Waldo County Community Food Resources, Christin Mcdonough

Waldo

Food resources found in Waldo County, Maine:

• Food pantries
• Farm stands
• Farmers markets
• Other resources

Penobscot County Community Food Resources, Savannah Lowrey

Penobscot

Food resources found in Penobscot County, Maine:

• Farm stands
• Farmers' markets
• Food pantries
• CSA farms
• Community centers

Oxford County Community Food Resources, Laura Mills

Oxford

Food resources found in Oxford County, Maine:

• Farmers' markets
• Food co-operatives
• Cooking classes
• CSA farms
• Farm stands
• Farm stands that accept Husky Bucks
• Retail Stores

Piscataquis County Community Food Resources, Samantha Machado

Piscataquis

Food resources found in Piscataquis County, Maine:

• Local farmers' markets
• Local farmers' markets (SNAP, WIC, and/or EBT)
• Free meals through the month (churches)

Piscataquis County Community Food Resources, Tiia Kand

Piscataquis

Food resources found in Piscataquis County, Maine:

• Food banks
• Food pantries
• Food resources
• Additional resources
• Demographics

Knox County Community Food Resources, Mikayla Libby Gilbert

Knox

Food resources found in Knox County, Maine:

• Farmers' Markets (EBT and Harvest Bucks)
• Retailers (Harvest Bucks)
• DHHS office
• Meals on Wheels
• Food Pantries
• Meal Sites

Aroostook County Community Food Resources, Sierra Edwards

Aroostook

Food resources found in Aroostook County, Maine:

• Farm stands
• The Country Food Co-Op and Farm Store
• Farmers' Markets

Kennebec County Community Food Resources, Mikayla Libby Gilbert

Kennebec

Food resources found in Kennebec County, Maine:

• Farmers' markets (EBT)
• Retailers (Harvest Bucks)
• DHHS office
• Meals on Wheels
• Food pantries
• Meal sites

B854: Cost Of Producing Milk In Maine: Results From The 2013 Cost-Of-Production Survey, Xuan Chen,, Gary Anderson, Dylan Bouchard, Julia Mcguire, George K. Criner, David Marcinkowski

Bulletins

The state of Maine has a unique tier-pricing program for dairy farms, established in 2004, which has been funded by milk-handling fees paid by processors. Given the nature of volatile production costs in dairy farming, it is important to update the baseline cost estimates for each tier every three years. This study aims to provide a precise baseline estimate of cost of production for each tier so that state legisla­tors can better manage the tier-pricing program. The authors provide a historic overview of past Maine dairy cost-of-production studies. They analyze the trend of the cost of producing milk in Maine …